CCJ Indicators: Truck tonnage climbs, shippers conditions wane

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Updated Jul 1, 2015

Reports released in the recent week show positive tonnage growth in May and a predicted tightening of capacity due to tightening regulations:

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06 23 15 -- Truck Tonnage Graphic for Web Posting

Truck tonnage up in May: Truck tonnage as measured by ATA’s monthly For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index rose 1.1 percent in May, ATA reported last week. It was also up 1.8 percent from the same month last year. The rise comes after a 1.4 percent drop in tonnage in April.

The index hit its all time high in January and was 2.7 percent off from that month’s reading. Year-to-date, however, tonnage is up 3.7 percent compared to the same period last year.[/gttable]

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Conditions for shippers improve — for now: Conditions for shippers, as measured by FTR’s Shippers Conditions Index, improved slightly in April, FTR reported last week. But the research firm says those improvements are only temporary, as trucking capacity is expected to tighten and carrier rates are expected to continue to improve. Regulations that hemp carrier productivity will drive conditions for shippers lower, FTR says.[/gttable]